Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-04-01

al didn't know I was marrying FOOL"
muttcred Philip, savagey.
"Mamma! mammal shriekcd Mrs. Dunno
ray, and fell back in hysterical fit Mamma
came, murmuring, ooh, my poor, poor
daringw Once more the man had to beat a
retreat. The moment he was out of the house
the abused wife dried her eyes and sat bolt
upright. Philip wandered aimessly to the
park and sat down. restless and disconnected.
Was all married peoples life like thisl But
he had had his own way, to LIE sure. His
marriage had been one of those cases wherein
oil n mans best friends can do is TO stand
back and see him make an ass of himself.
And while he was musing on matrmony, he
saw bright little phaeton flash by Inside
of it was his wife, gay and pretty, chatting
with one whose polite attentions were not
compliment to lady, married or single. He
went home in fury. When presently the
wife in all her poodle dog prettlness came
back scene took place which it will be quite
as well not to repeat.
| 1t may be mentioned that similar scenes
followed. The discord became common talk.
Everybody took the, part of the wife. Was
she not sweet, pretty, childike creature,
whom no one could help loving! man who
would mistreat her was brute and
| a monster. Who would blame her ii she
did seek little relief from the wretchedness
at home? There was no lack of those who did
not like Philip. His imperious temper and
naughty frankness had not tended to draw
friends around him. BY degrees he got the
name of tyrannical husband and bad man.
He heard the whispers about himself. He
saw his wife flirting openly with tops and
rakes He became young fellow fit for des-
| perateness.
One evening he came home earlier than
usual The light burned low in his wife's
parlor. He looked in. The man whom he
had seen riding in the park with Myra was
there His arm was about her, he was muir
muring low words in her ear, her head was
| on his shoulder.
Philip was like tiger. With one hand he
| gripped his wifes arm, and flung her against
the wall. He took her companion by the
throat before he had time to recover from
| his first daze He throttled him until he was
purple, and threw him out the door, and down
the steps, He was a giant.
| Then he clasped his hands to his temples,
| and sat down to think. crumpled rose
colored object against the wall attracted his
sight. 1t was his wife lying there insensible,
| in the gay dress she had worn to receive that
man.
He had laid violent hands on woman.
Myra was in dead faint. He gathered
her up and carried her to her bed. He sent
for the doctor. When she recovered con-
seriousness, and her eyes fell on him, she
tainted once more. She was i'll for many
months.
From that night she never could endure the
sight of her husband. He wandered about
as one accursed. Her side of the story got
abroad Philip never told his side, he was as
| proud as julius Cesar.
His wife hated him with steady hate. 1t
was surprising that a creature so shallow and
tickle could cherish passion SO deep and
constant. Feelings are often easy enough to
develop, though when they are on the wrong
| side.
Dumoray was at heart of chivalrous, no
| bic nature He had used violence toward a
woman his own wife. That thought never
| left Kim. night or day. He hated himself
| Could he do nothing to make amends! Moth
| ing. He might live to be hundred years old,
and make every hour period of explation,
but he could never be the same in his own
eyes again. That thought was the most
| agonizing. a noble soul always cares more
for its own respect than for the respect of
others.
Myra could easily have had Il separation.
She did not seem to care for it, however.
| lie mentioned IL 10 her.
"You want to get rid of me, now that you
have killed me, do you3" she said, queru-
lousy.
God knows do not Myra," he said. "lf
there was anything that would make things
right God knows | would do it"
There is nothing that will make things
right, l hate you'll Look what you have
brought me to- And you would marry me.
What do you bring all those children in here
forl You do it to vex me. You know
hate children. There, am going off again.
Give me my drops and go away"
He looked at her. Was she losing her
mind1 She caught the thought in his brain,
with mental keenness she had never shown
before her illness.
"Yes, Tin going crazy, and you have made
me so. Give me my drops, tell you, and go
away"
He obeyed He went into the corridor and
walked the floor He sent for the family
physician, and asked him anxious questions.
The family physician answered shortly:
"Your wife is an opium eater"
What life was in store for these two
The high born soul needs only one lesson.
Philip had had his lesson. He was never the
same again. from the night he had struck his
wife. He became the gentlest, most patient
vi Hicli' his bOys were bloNihS W Do
intelligent little creatures. He devoted him
self to them. He was in place of mother to
the bereft infants. All the happiness of his
life he found with them.
By degrees his wife quite lost her mind.
He would not put the insane woman away in
an asylum. He accepted the care of her as
part of his punishment. He tended her
wants and humored every within of the poor,
| craZed creature She retained still CLEANS of
recollection. The most vivid was her hatred
of Philip She never forgot that in her most
demented moments. She knew him and her
boys For the children in her sane days she
had had little fondness. Now one of the
CLEANS of remembrance thrt was left her told
her Philip loved them Therefore she hated
them. Her insane fancies took shape in one
intense idea-revenge on Philip Dumoray.
She became n cunning, dangerous lunatic.
Philip had her watched night and day He
kept himself away from her. The sight of